Here’s some exciting news for owners of unlocked Samsung phones. Now, you might be wondering what an unlocked phone is – they’re those that get updates straight from the phone company rather than the carrier.

In the past, unlocked Samsung phones were the last ones to receive updates, but that’s about to change! It’s been especially frustrating for owners of unlocked versions of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, who haven’t yet received the Nougat update that has been pushed by every major carrier. Those unlocked phone owners are actually even waiting for a post-December security update, stemming from Samsung’s decision to push updates quarterly rather than monthly.

Recently, Samsung has decided to transition to a monthly update schedule, which means regular Android security updates for those unlocked phone owners. Samsung acknowledged that its update schedule was flawed and pledged to fix it. “Due to various circumstances, we have been releasing security updates for unlocked (open) Galaxy devices in the U.S. on a quarterly basis,” Samsung’s Mobile Security team stated to ZDNet. “However, we have now resolved the challenges; and we are committed to releasing security updates for those devices on a monthly basis.”

With this in mind, unlocked Galaxy owners should be receiving updates at least as fast as, and maybe faster than, carrier-locked phone owners. We don’t know the time frame for this switch, the March Android update is supposedly coming “soon” – though we don’t know if the update will include the Nougat update.

This transition is seemingly also an effort for Samsung to play catch up with Apple. Apple’s security update schedule isn’t public, but because they manufacture both the OS and the hardware, they’re able to release updates as soon as they verify carrier compatibility. Further, Apple doesn’t seem to adhere to a strict schedule and tends to push updates whenever they solve a series of issues; these updates are rarely constrained by carrier or whether the device is locked.

This is a necessary advance for Samsung to keep up with its competition and keep consumers happy. Here at ClientSide, we strive to provide the best customer experience. With that said, when we deploy an update, we send emails to our clients to inform them of exactly what they’re getting with the update. Want to see how ClientSide’s document and signature automation solution can help your firm? Start your free trial today!

For those of you Apple users, you know how annoying the pestering updates can be – you don’t know what you’re going to get and whether your device will be positively or negatively affected. With the recent release of iOS 10.2.1, we decided to make your decision to update (or not) easier by telling what the update does, for better or for worse.

Who Is the 10.2.1 Update Intended for?

The iOS update size varies based on device, but this update ranges between 30MB and 90MB, which is relatively small in comparison to previous updates.

The Negatives

Let’s start with the bad news first:

No jailbreak: Those of you who like your jailbroken devices should avoid this update.

‘30% Battery Bug’ Remains Unfixed: This is a problem that can affect every iOS 10 compatible device, with only exceptions being the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Essentially, devices inexplicably switch off around the 30%-battery mark.

Isolated Other Issues: There have been some complaints of dimming displays, worsened WiFi performance, and Bluetooth troubles, though these problems haven’t been as rampant as the 30% battery or no-jailbreak complaints.

The Positives

Now for the good news. The release notes state that, “iOS 10.2.1 includes bug fixes and improves security of your device.” And this release seems to largely encompass what the update includes.

Apple’s security content names 11 issues that iOS 10.2.1 fixes, including the potential for iPhones to unlock when unpaired with an Apple Watch, the potential for your data to be compromised by popups, and an issue where WiFi could be used even when on a locked home screen.

The biggest news here is 10.2.1’s solution for two gaps that hackers could exploit to gain full control of your device. According to JP Taggart, senior security researcher a Malwarebytes, ““[Hackers] can add files, delete files, or execute any actions.”

The bright side is the problem was solved before these gaps went public, but they’re also an extremely compelling reason for you to update now!

What Should You Do?

Apple’s stagnation on the 30% battery issue is certainly frustrating, but with these security loopholes in mind, we recommend that you upgrade your devices.

Here at ClientSide, we strive to provide the best customer experience. With that said, when we deploy an update, we send emails to our clients to inform them of exactly what they’re getting with the update.

ClientSide is a document and signature automation solution that allows you to streamline your firm’s fundamental processes. Imagine being able to send out a document with just a few clicks. Imagine a world where you don’t have to remind your clients about their outstanding documents; they’re automatically reminded. Imagine being able to track the progress of your document from sent to signed. ClientSide turns your imagination into a reality. Want to see for yourself? Start your free trial today!